World Series: Bad News For Tiger Fans
By: Mike Stone
As many followers of WPRE(Predictions) Radio know too well, when I make a prediction it is usually wrong, so the fact that I think the Tigers are going to win the World Series in six games is not a good sign for the men who don the Olde English D. Here is a World Series edition of the Stoney Six Pack that briefly spells out why.
1. Starting Pitching. Matt Cain is a great pitcher, but has only been good this post season .Madison Bumgarner has been awful. Thus far, Ryan Vogelsong and game 1 starter Barry Zito have been lights out. The Tigers starting pitching speaks for itself, giving up just 7 earned runs in 62 innings, plus with Justin Verlander slated to go twice, they have to get the edge.
2. The Cabrera factor. I know Miggy has just one home run thus far, but I believe he is the best player on either team and he is going to show why in this series. The other Cabrera, Melky was left off the Giants post season roster after his drug suspension was lifted. It's hard to call that a mistake, but against this pitching staff his bat would certainly help.
3. Prince Fielder. Call this a hunch. He has hit .211 while striking out 7 times this post season .However, Fielder has hit exactly 100 points higher at A T & T Park. Granted it's a small sample size but he has struggled against Zito and Vogelsong, while doing well against Cain and Bumgarner.
4. Comerica Park. Yes, the Giants are a good road team and won three in a row in Cincinnati to win the NLDS and a huge game five in St. Louis, but the Tigers are were 50-31 at home in the regular season and are perfect at Comerica Park in the post season.
5. The Resurrection Crew. Admit it, most of us had written off Jhonny Peralta, Delmon Young, and Phil Coke this season. The lack of production by those four seemed to epitomize the 2012 Tigers. The post season has featured a complete turnaround and is one of the main reasons the Tigers are even in the World Series.
6. Karma. Some may argue that the Giants possess amazing karma, having won six straight elimination games, which is true. However the Tigers are also undefeated in such elimination games. (Yes I know it was only one) The real karma though has to do with the angst of the season. The majority of the regular season was headlined by uninspired baseball, uninspired lineups, and a failure to live up to expectations. That changed in the playoffs and is why they will win this thing.
